In the canal (ITC) hearing aids
There are for main types of hearing aid: Behind The Ear (BTE), In The Ear (ITE), In The Canal (ITC) and Completely In Canal (CIC). Each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking of buying a new hearing aid, it is worth spending some time thinking about which type would be best for you – ideally you should visit an audiologist or aid vendor who will give you a hearing assessment and advice on which aids would be most suitable for you.
In the Canal (ITC)
In the canal models are smaller than ITE aids, but larger than CIC ones. They tend to fill roughly half of your ear, whereas the ITE models usually fill the entire ear. ITC models are usually visible to other people; although they do come in range of skin-matching colours that make them difficult to spot unless someone is looking directly into your ear.
I have some problems with feedback with my own pair of Siemens ITC aids – particularly when I’m listening to music through headphones or wearing a tight fitting hat. I also find that many phones produce feedback with my hearing aid and I have to hold the phone at about a 45 degeree angle to stop it. This is not to say that all ITC hearing aids will produce feedback in these situations but it is something to find out about if you are thinking of buying a pair.
This type of hearing aid is normally recommended to people with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss.
Because the electronic components of ITC hearing aids are inside your ear they are suspectible to damage from ear wax and moisture. You should receive a set of brushes and other tools to help you keep your ITC aid clean and in good working order. You can take a look at the top hearing aid manufacturers here.
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Posted by Geoff
Geoffrey Cooling
Geoffrey (Geoff, anything else makes him nervous) Cooling is an Irish hearing aid blogger and has been involved with the hearing aid industry since 2007. He has worked in private practice dispensing hearing aids and as a manufacturer's rep. He has written two books and they are both available on Amazon. He loves technology, passing on knowledge and is legendary for many other things, primarily the amount he curses, his dry and mischievous sense of humour and his complete intolerance of people who are full of themselves. Please feel free to connect with him.
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